Defour To See Specialist

Steven Defour is to see a specialist over a knee injury that is threatening his ever-present record in the Premier League this season.

Defour has been a big player for the Clarets, with his central midfield partnership with Jack Cork a constant theme to Burnley’s progress into the top eight.

But the Belgium international is a doubtful starter for Wednesday night’s trip to Newcastle United and will have the problem assessed.

“He’s done very well,” said manager Sean Dyche.

“It’s something he’s had in his knee for a couple of weeks.

“It’s been a bit of a problem and he felt, and we felt, it was right to get it looked at.

“We will make a decision when we know more. We’ll find out more in the next few days.”

James Tarkowski is also rated ‘touch and go’ for the game at St James’ Park with a minor groin problem.

But left-back Stephen Ward delivered the Clarets a boost when he returned to full training on Monday after missing Burnley’s last eight games, which haven’t yielded a win.

Striker Chris Wood is stepping up his comeback in training outside with the physio department and Tom Heaton is also continuing to progress.

But Dean Marney has tweaked a medial knee ligament to sideline him for a short spell.

With half-a-dozen senior players not in immediate first-team contention and a couple more under assessment, the Clarets’ squad has been stretched during a testing run of fixtures.

But it remains “doubtful” that Dyche will add further to his squad ahead of Wednesday’s transfer deadline, having already added wingers Aaron Lennon and GK Nkoudou since the January transfer window opened.

“It’s not a ‘no’, but at this moment in time it’s not a probability,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Clarets have recalled defender Tom Anderson from his loan spell at League Two side Port Vale.